Buckle.



C. G. JOHNSON.

BUCKLE.A

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 3. I914.

' Patented May 18, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO,Y PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, n). C4

i riNiTED s'iA'rEs PATENT oEEioE.-

CHARLES G.'JoHNsON, OE BRIEGEPORRCONNECTICUT, AssiCNoR'To WARNER BROTHERS COMPANY, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

To all .fwwmz't may concern.' l

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Bridgeport, county vof Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the following is aspeciication.

This invention relates to buckles and more specifically to those types of buckles ...com-

lprising a clamping member movable relatively to the frame of the buckle, and cooperating with (an auxiliary element, such as a portion of the frame of the buckle, to form a clamp, thel webbing or A strap of leather, fabric or the like, being interposed between such auxiliary 'element and the clamping member,fthe movement of the clamping member being controlled by a suitable lever. V

"In explanation of my invention, I have referred hereinafter to certain 'preferred forms of my buckle having a frame formed of a transverse bar serving as a clamping bar, longitudinal bars connected to said 'clamping bar, and anothertransverse bar serving as the pivot bar. The longitudinal bars may be substantially `parallel to each ber is` in the form of a sliding clamp movother, and lying practically in a. plane excepting at their respective portions adjacent the clampingbar; The'pclamping memable in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame said sliding clamp having a clamping portion disposed at an angle to the body of the sliding clamp, said angle being of proper magnitude relative to the clamping bar whereby the pressure effected by .the sliding clamp on the webbing or strap will withstand the greatest strains, such as v would be met with in the use rof the buckle as a baggage buckle. The sliding clamp ispref-4 erably controlled by a cam secured to thel lever, said sliding clamp being guidedin its movement by lugs attached respectively on the upper sides of the longitudinal meinbers, and further by one or Vmore transverse i bars attached on the lower Vsides of the longi` tudinal bars. Such lower transverse bar, or one of such lower transverse bars, if two or more are employed, is disposed relatively to4 the sliding clamp when in closed position BUCKLE.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented May-18,1915; Application filed J' une 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,549. Y

whereby the strains exerted by the webbing and borne` byA relieving the cam ofsubstantially all strains when the parts are in closed position. In such types of buckle,` I have found -it-desirable to positively connect y the sliding clamp with thefcam to thereby positively withdraw the sliding clamp away from.` the clampingv bar .when the .lever is moved to open position. l

Other features and objects ofmy invention will ,be `more fully, understood ,from

panying drawings, in whichcomprising my invention, buckle being shown in closed position; 2 is a bottom plan view ofthe same; Fig. 3 illustrates the same buckle when strung with webbing `or a strap of leather, -fabric'or the likegtheview is in central longitudinal sec? tion and showsthe parts of the buckle-.in closed position; VandFig. 4 isa detail sec. tional view on line of Fig. 2. y

Referring to the drawings, the frame coinprises'l kthe `transverse f bar l serving as a clamping bar, and .the substantially parallel longitudinal bars-3, @respectively connected to bar ll. They transversebar 2 comprises stud-.like ends serving as pivotsand a rein`` forcing portion ofless cross-section interconnecting the studflike portions.; The loop yfor yattaching the fixed endof the webbing or` strap comprises the transverse kbar 51connected to extensions of longitudinalbars 3,v 4, the fixed end 6 of the webbing being se-v cured about bar 5 by means `of rivets 7 or the like. As illustrated, the longitudinal bars .8, 4:, thepivotbar 2 and the loop bar 5 Mein-substantially the ,same plane, and the Vdisposed atan langle to said body portion lOand bent"V upwardly with respect to the. clamping bar 1. Such relation of the clamping portion 11 facilitates the insert-ionof-the j y i the following description andthe accoml running end 12 of the webbing or strap, and at the same time enables the clamping portion 11 to eectively bite the webbing or strap at the desired adjusted position, whereby the maximum strains tending to dislodge the webbing or strap 12 from the desired adjusted position are effectually overcome without substantial injury to the material of the webbing or strap.

The sliding clamp 8 is guided at the top by the opposite guiding lugs 13, 14, held respectively by longitudinal bars 3, 4. Below the sliding clamp 8 is disposed the lower transverse bar 15 extending from longitudinal bar 3 to longitudinal bar 4, and in a certain position relative to the clamping portion 11 of sliding clamp 8 when the same is in closed position, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. In the drawings, there is also shown the transverse bar 16 disposed below the sliding clamp 8 and extending from longitudinal bar 3 to longitudinal bar 4. Thus, when the sliding clamp is moved longitudinally ofthe bars 3, 4,.the same is guided by lugs 13, 14, and transverse bar 16, said movement in the case illustrated being substantially parallel to the plane of the frame.

The operating mechanism of the sliding clamp comprises the lever 18, preferably having oppositely disposed ears 19, 19, integral with the bodyl of lever member 1.8, said ears 19 respectively embracing the stud-like portions 2, 2 of the pivoting bar. The sliding clamp operating means further comprises the cam portion 20 preferably formed. by bending an extension integral with the'body of lever member 18,y said cam portion comprising the cam surface portion 21 and the locking portion 22, said locking portion 22 being shown as extending into contact with the body of lever member 18. The sliding clamp 8 is provided with the angular operating surface 23V coperating with the cam surface 21 to give an easy movement and coperating with locking surface 22 to firmly lock the sliding clamp when the lever 18 is in closed position. The loop 24 formed of coacting loop elements is shown extending from sliding clamp 8 rearwardly and adapted to engage the inner face of cam portion 20 when the lever member 18 is moved from closed to open position, thereby facilitating the withdrawal of sliding clamp 8 away from clamping bar 1 when the buckle is opened. The lever member is indicated as having the front portion 25 adapted to project toward or engage the portion 10 of sliding clamp 8 when the lever member 18 is in closed position. It will be noted that the free end of running portion 12 of the webbing or strap will lie snug against the depressed portion 25 of lever member 18 thereby reducing the combined dimensions of the buckle and strap or webbing when the buckle is in closed position. The lever member 18 is shown provided with opposite finger pieces 26, 26, preferably conformnig to the periphery of longitudinal members 3, 4, to thereby reduce the extent of projecting parts when the buckle is in closed position.

It is advantageous to dispose the upper guide lugs 13, 14, more closely toward the pivot of the lever member 18 thereby giving the front or clamping portion 11 of the sliding clamp limited free play vertically in the direction of tensioning or tightening the webbing or strap. Such arrangement improves the facility of inserting the free end of the running portion 12, and also allows the running portion to be pulled through the buckle in the direction to tighten the webbing or strap around the trunk, package or other object while the lever and sliding clamp are in closed position. This improved characteristic of my buckle may be illustrated with respect to Fig. 3 of the drawings, by assuming the webbing or strap to encircle the trunk, package or like object and the running portion 12- to have been inserted between the clamping bar 1 and the sliding clamp 8. The buckle may be then closed as by means of the lever and its cam portion, and the running Vportion 12 pulled through the buckle in the direction indicated by arrow 17 while the parts of the buckle are in closed position, the running portion 12, however, being pulled vertically upward rather than horizontally, as indicated in Fig. 3. Thus, without manipulating the lever member, the webbing or strap may be pulled to exert the desired maximum pressure on the trunk, package or like object without requiring the closure of the buckle after such desired position has been attained, as is necessary in prior buckles. Upon attaining such desired position, the strap or webbing will be held against the strains tending to dislodge the same by the clamping portion 11 coperating with the clamping bar 1. It will be noted that the transverse bar 15 frictionally engages the sliding clamp 8 at or adjacent to the clamping portion 11 thereof, and such strains tending to dislodge the webbing or strap will be borne by the said transverse bar 15. It is desirable to provide the sliding clamp 8 with the rib or corrugation 9 extending lengthwise of the sliding clamp 8 and transverse to the angular clamping portion 11, thereby giving increased rigidity. Such rib or corrugation 9 may be disposed in the center of sliding clamp 8 or any number of uch ribs or corrugations may be provided or. f

lNhereas I have described my invention by reference to the specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as` de-v fined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a buckle for webbingor the like, the combination with a frame, of a clamping member comprising a body portion and a clamping portion extending upward at an angle to the plane of said body portion, means for slidably mounting said clamping member on said frame, a stop for opposing movement of said clamping portion in a direction opposite to the direction of said angle when said clamping member is in closed position, said clamping portion being free to yield to movement in the direction of said angle, and a lever comprising a cam portion for controlling said sliding member.

2. In a buckle for webbing or the like, the combination with a frame, of a clamping member comprising a body portion and a clamping portioniny fixed relation to said body portion extending upward at an angle to the plane of said body portion, means for slidably mounting said clamping member on said frame, a stop inthe path of said clamping portion for opposing movement thereof in a direction-opposite to the direction of said angle when said clamping member is in closed position, said clamping portion being free to yield to limited movement in the direction of said angle, and a lever comprising a cam portion for controlling said sliding member. l

3. In'a buckle for webbing or' the like the combination with a Jframe comprising longitudinal bars and a transverse bar, a

clamping member coperating with said transverse bar to form clamping means, means for slidably mounting saidv clamping member on said longitudinal bars, a bar connected to said longitudinal bars serving to resist movement of the clamping member in Y a certain direction when the clamping member is in closed position, a levervmember comprising a cam portion controlling vthe sliding movement of saidvclamping member and means for pivotally mounting said lever member on said longitudinal bars, said movement resisting bar and said pivotally mounting means *being` disposed on opposite sides of said slidable mounting means.

4:. In a buckle for webbing or the like,

fthe combination 4of a rame'of the buckle comprising longitudinal bars and a relatively displaced transverse bar, a clamping member comprising a body portion and a Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing `the Commissionerof Patents,`

clamping portion extending from said bodyV portion. in the direction of said displaced transverse bar, said clamping portion form# ing with said transverse bar a clamp, means for slidably mounting said clamping member on said longitudinal bars, a bar carried by said longitudinal bars and disposed relatively thereto in the direction opposite to the direction of displacement of said dis-v placed bar and adapted to be engaged by said clamping member when said clamping member is in closed position and a lever member comprising a cam portion for controlling the sliding movement of said clamping member.

5. In a buckle for webbing kor the likethe combination of a frame comprising longitudinal bars and a transverse relatively dissv placed bar, a clamping member comprising a body portion and a'clamping portion in tegrally connected to said body portion and extending angularly therefrom in the direction toward said transverse displaced bar,y

means for pivotally mounting said lever member on said longitudinal bars.

6. In a buckle for webbing or the like, thev i combination of aV frame comprisingplongiv tudinal bars and a relatively displacedv transverse bar, a clamping member 'comprising afbody portion and a clamping portion integrally connected to saidA body por,-` i

tion andextending angularlytherefrom in ythe direction toward said transverse bar, means for slidably mounting said clamping member on said longitudinal bars, a Ybar .serving as a stop for opposing movement of said clamping portion in a direction op# positc to the angle of displacement of said transverse bar when said clamping member is in closed position and a lever member' comprising a cam portion for controlling the sliding movement of -said clamping member. Y -k Y. v In testimony whereof yI have signed this specification in the scribing witnesses. y

` `CHARLES G. JOHNSON.y Witnesses: Y y.

ROBERT A. G. VUEY, WILLIAM WEBB.

Washington, D. C.

presence of two sub-A 

